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Two selected as all-stars

Nia Coffey and Rebekah Dahlman named to McDonald's All-America team

As a junior, Nia Coffey of Hopkins helped lead her team to a Class 4A state high school basketball championship last March.

Rebekah Dahlman scored on this shot during last season's state tournament to break the state scoring mark.

Nia Coffey of Hopkins and Rebekah Dahlman of Braham have been selected to play in the McDonald’s All-America girls’ basketball game, according to Bill Larson, North Tartan’s AAU director.

Coffey has helped lead the Royals to two consecutive state titles in Class 4A. She’s averaging 18.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season. She has committed to play at Northwestern next year.

Dahlman became Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer last season. She has committed to play at Vanderbilt next year. Dahlman leads her team in scoring with 620 points in 18 games this season. She also leads undefeated Braham in rebounding.

Nationwide, more than 800 high school students were nominated this year. The final 24-player rosters for the boys' and girls' teams will be announced Feb. 14 on an ESPNU selection show. The all-star games will be played April 3 at the United Center in Chicago.

The selection of Coffey and Dahlman in one year speaks to increased awareness of improving girls’ basketball talent in the state, local officials said.

Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff estimated that about 250 college coaches attend summer tournaments in Minnesota. Despite the state’s hockey reputation, “there’s some basketball being played here, too,” he said.

Larson called Coffey and Dahlman “great kids, most deserving. But really what they’re doing is starting a trend of a lot more recognition throughout the entire Midwest because of what they’ve been able to do.”

Three other Minnesota high school players also were nominated: Jessica January of Richfield, Joe Aase of Austin and Graham Woodward of Edina.

Derek Wetmore is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment with the Star Tribune.